Ocean of Breath, Ocean of Love 24-30 April 2026

6-night Insight/Vipassana Meditation Retreat at Sangsurya Retreat Centre, Byron Bay

In the Anapanasati Sutta we find the Buddha’s guidance on mindfulness of breathing. By following, resting into, and enjoying the breath, the body relaxes and the mind becomes clear. From this we learn to meet experience in loving presence, skillful understanding and wide-open awareness.

This silent retreat offers the opportunity to deepen one’s practice and settle into our open-hearted nature. The schedule will include guided meditations, Dharma talks, sitting and walking meditation, inquiry and somatic practice.
The retreat is conducted in silence apart from meetings with teachers and essential communication.

Lizzie Turnbull is an Insight Meditation teacher and since 1985 has been deeply immersed in Vajrayana, Zen and Western Insight. She guides the Flowing Mountain Meditation Group in Brunswick Heads. Lizzie has over 25 years' experience as a somatic and Buddhist-influenced psychotherapist, supervisor and educator. www.lizturnbull.com.au

Carol Perry has 45 years’ experience in the Insight tradition. She is a senior teacher with Melbourne Insight Meditation and a long-time activist on ecological and social justice issues. Carol leads a monthly Women’s Dharma group, mentors teachers, and is a Certified Hakomi Psychotherapist. She recently published a book: The Whole of the Path: Dharma, Community and Social Action.

Dana: Insight Meditation teachers give generously of their time and energy during retreats. They receive no payment for this and are supported by donations from those attending retreats. A Dana (donation) box will be placed inside the meditation hall for donations to support the teachers. 

Retreat Fees

1. Twin/Triple share rooms - $1020

2. Single room with/without ensuite - $1440

3. Bring your own campervan - $750

Schedule: 

Please arrive between 3:00pm and 5:00pm on Friday, 24th April. The retreat will finish after lunch on Thursday 30th April at 1.30pm.

The full days have an early optional exercise period e.g. yoga, walking or individual exercise. The retreat program consists of sitting, standing, walking & guided meditation, meditation instruction, and individual meetings with teachers, inquiry sessions, evening Dharma talks and daily mindfulness work periods.  

The retreat is conducted in silence apart from meetings with teachers and essential communication.

Meetings with the teachers are an essential aspect of the retreat and there will be opportunities for individual interviews with teachers during the week.

What to Bring:

• Meditation cushions (firm) and a fairly thick mat to cushion your feet and legs. There are yoga mats, blankets and bolsters for your use at Sangsurya

• Clothing for all weather plus meditation shawl or wrap

• Slip-on shoes.

• Torch with extra batteries: Sangsurya is in a forest setting and even though there is path lighting, a torch is handy for moving around the area at night.

• Water bottle (please leave outside the meditation hall) - filtered water is available at the meditation hall and in the dining room.

• Rain/sun protection - you might be gardening in rain or sun.

• Mosquito repellent and sunscreen and low-scent personal toiletries.

• Swimmers if you want to use the pool.

• All bedding and linen including towels, sheets, blankets and pillows are provided, unless in a campervan. There are yoga mats available for your use.

Etiquette on Retreat:

Participants are requested to observe the five precepts while on retreat and take up the practices of:

1. Cultivating kindness and restraining from harmful actions.

2. Cultivating appreciation and generosity with possessions and restraining from taking what is not freely offered.

3. Cultivating inner joy and contentment and restraining from sexual expression.

4. Cultivating truthful and appropriate communication and restraining from speech that distorts or is damaging.

5. Cultivating clarity and restraining from habits that create dullness or heedlessness.

Terms and Conditions 

Please read the following before completing your booking. 

The retreat team consists of teachers who receive dana but no other reimbursement. Managers and assistants are voluntary. We strive to keep our costs as low as possible. The cook is contracted and Sangsurya sets fees and terms and conditions for use of their premises.   

Retreat etiquette, including maintaining noble silence is a condition of retreat participation. Attendance at the retreat is at the Teacher's and Manager's discretion and participants may be required to leave the retreat at the request of the retreat organisers without financial compensation. 

Cancellation and Refund Policies

If you need to cancel your booking: 

A full refund will be offered up to 3 weeks before the retreat. If the cancellation is within the three weeks leading up to the retreat, you will receive a 50% refund, except that cancellations in the final week will receive a 30% refund. However, cancellations made from Wednesday 22nd April 2026 will not be refunded. 

Sangsurya and retreat organizers are not responsible or financially liable if you are unable to arrive at the retreat or need to leave the retreat in the case of Force Majeure, natural disasters and other unforeseen circumstances, including travel restrictions and cancellations. 

Force Majeure - Cancellations by Sangsurya and retreat organisers in the case of severe weather, natural disaster or other unforeseen circumstances beyond our reasonable control

If there is cancellation of the retreat due to Force Majeure, and where rescheduling this retreat is not possible, we will refund monies less any costs incurred from Sangsurya, the cook and any other costs such as administrative/insurance fees.

We recommend you obtain travel insurance to protect yourself against unforeseen events.

We, the teachers/managers/organisers/Kuan Yin Meditation Centre, accept no responsibility or liability if there are changes to travel, injury, or loss of personal property. In attending the retreat, you accept that you are responsible for your actions and your psychological and physical wellbeing. We will do what we believe is needed and reasonable to ensure a safe, comfortable and fulfilling retreat experience.

Please acknowledge that you have read and understood the terms and conditions of attending the retreat and that the retreat team, Kuan Yin Meditation Centre and Sangsurya are released from liability. Sangsurya's terms and conditions are available on their website.